Information recording apparatus and information reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A recording apparatus for recording record information onto a record medium to be reproduced by a reproducing apparatus, is provided with: a process device for dividing the record information into a plurality of partial record informations on the basis of material content information, which indicates a material content of the record information and is given from the external; a controller for generating reproduction control information to control the reproducing apparatus to reproduce the partial record informations in a predetermined order, which is set in advance or which is based on a condition given to the reproducing apparatus from the external at a time of reproduction; and a recording device for recording the partial record informations and the reproduction control information onto the record medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related with an information recording apparatusand an information reproducing apparatus. Especially, it is related withan information recording apparatus for recording on a record medium,such as an optical disk and the like, audio information and videoinformation in order to carry out an interactive reproduction operation,and an information reproducing apparatus for reproducing the audioinformation and the video information suitable for the interactivereproduction operation from the record medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

The audio information and the video information are generally recordedon a record medium, such as an optical disk, a video tape and the like.

The information recorded on the above mentioned record medium has beenrecorded by using an analog signal. Recently, because of littledeterioration of a signal (sound quality and image quality), an easyoperation in a computer and the like, a method of recording by using adigital signal is used generally.

The optical disk as the record medium on which this digital signal isrecorded is used as the record medium for various informationirrespective of video and audio information, since it is capable of arandom access.

And, since the optical disk has a large record capacity, and can recordmuch addition information (for controlling the reproduction of maininformation such as video information and audio information) in additionto the main information, it is used in a special reproduction by usingthe addition information, in many cases.

Incidentally, in some special reproduction, the reproduction of apredetermined record area is intentionally prohibited in a case ofcarrying out a usual consecutive reproduction or retrieval.

As an example of such a special reproduction in which the reproductionis intentionally prohibited, there is an interactive reproduction forcarrying out a two-way information exchange between a user and a medium.

For example, in a case of an educational interactive reproduction, onlya portion of Question! is reproduced regardless of the reproductioncondition, and unless the user carries out a particular operation toanswer the Question!, it is prohibited to carry out the informationreproduction in the portion of Answer!.

Functions required in this interactive reproduction are listed below,for example.

(1) It is possible to branch into an outline (i.e. reproduction order)specified by a user interface, such as a key input and the like, in linewith a plurality of outlines (i.e. reproduction orders) designed by amedium author (who records the information onto the record medium).

(2) It is possible to automatically set reproduction state to a stillimage reproduction state at a certain video frame.

(3) It is possible to automatically carry out a repeat reproduction fora certain video interval.

(4) The medium author can freely specify a still image reproduction timeor a repeat reproduction time.

(5) In a case that a plurality of outlines can be selected freely, abranch destination can be determined freely on a side of the reproducingapparatus.

(6) In a case that a plurality of outlines can be selected on the basisof a predetermined rule, the branch destination can be set automaticallyon the side of the reproducing apparatus.

As a method of implementing the functions required in the aboveexplained interactive reproduction, there is a method of describing areproduction procedure in a script form close to a computer language.

If trying to record the reproduction procedure on the optical disk inthis script form, a memory capacity becomes large for storing thereproduction procedure on the side of the reproducing apparatus.Especially, in a case that a record capacity of the main informationitself is large, such as a case that an actually photographed animationimage and a high quality sound are recorded as the main information, thecapacity to store the reproduction procedure becomes certainly large.Thus, in a case that a memory capacity of a memory for the sum islimited in the reproducing apparatus, there is a problem that it isimpossible to record an excessively complex reproduction procedure.

Further, in a case of contrarily using a complex reproduction procedureto reproduce, it is necessary to make the memory capacity on the side ofthe reproducing apparatus larger, and this results in a problem of costincrease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninformation recording apparatus and an information reproducingapparatus, which can implement functions required in an interactivereproduction while restricting the increase of the load on the side ofthe information reproducing apparatus.

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a recordingapparatus for recording record information onto a record medium to bereproduced by a reproducing apparatus. The recording apparatus isprovided with: a process device for dividing the record information intoa plurality of partial record informations on the basis of materialcontent information, which indicates a material content of the recordinformation and is given from the external; a controller for generatingreproduction control information to control the reproducing apparatus toreproduce the partial record informations in a predetermined order,which is set in advance or which is based on a condition given to thereproducing apparatus from the external at a time of reproduction; and arecording device for recording the partial record informations and thereproduction control information onto the record medium.

According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, therecord information is divided into a plurality of partial recordinformations on the basis of material content information by the processdevice. Then, the reproduction control information to control thereproducing apparatus to reproduce the partial record informations inthe predetermined order is generated by the controller. Finally, thepartial record informations and the reproduction control information arerecorded onto the record medium, by the recording device.

Consequently, when the record medium, which has been recorded by theabove described recording apparatus, is reproduced by the reproducingapparatus, by use of the reproduction control information which can bereproduced from the record medium besides the partial recordinformations (e.g. the video and audio information), it is possible toperform an interactive reproduction, which does not increase the load onthe reproducing apparatus so much and which is in line with theintention of the medium author, based on the reproduced reproductioncontrol information.

In one aspect of the recording apparatus of the present invention, thecontroller generates the reproduction control information includingbranch destination information for specifying at least one secondpartial record information to be branched from a first partial recordinformation.

According to this aspect, the reproduction control information includesthe branch destination information for specifying at least one secondpartial record information to be branched from a first partial recordinformation. Thus, at the time of reproducing the first partial recordinformation, it is possible to easily specify the branch destination(i.e. the second partial record information) by referring to the branchdestination information which can be reproduced from the record mediumbesides the partial record information. Consequently, it is possible toperform the interactive reproduction more easily by the reproducingapparatus.

In this aspect, the branch destination information may includesreproduction level information for the reproducing apparatus to judgewhether the reproduction of each partial record information to bebranched is permitted or prohibited by a level indicated by thereproduction level information. In this case, at the time of reproducingthe first partial record information, it is possible to easily judgewhether or not the reproduction of the branch destination (i.e. thesecond partial record information) is permitted or prohibited byreferring to the reproduction level information. Consequently, it ispossible to easily perform the interactive reproduction of only thepermitted partial record information by the reproducing apparatus.

Also, in this aspect, the branch destination information may includebranch timing information for the reproducing apparatus to judge, in acase that a branch command is given to the reproducing apparatus fromthe external, whether the branch command causes the reproducingapparatus to immediately branch into the partial record information at abranch destination or to branch into the partial record information atthe branch destination after finishing the reproduction of the partialrecord information presently reproduced at a timing when the branchcommand is given. In this case, at the time of reproducing the firstpartial record information, it is possible to realize various patternsof branching by referring to the branch timing information.Consequently, it is possible to easily perform the interactivereproduction in various manner in line with the intention of the mediumauthor by the reproducing apparatus.

Further in this aspect, the branch destination information may includerandom branch information to cause, in a case that a branch command isgenerated in the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus torandomly select a branch destination from a predetermined plurality ofpartial record informations after finishing the reproduction of thepartial record information presently reproduced at a timing when thebranch command is generated, so as to branch thereto. In this case, atthe time of reproducing the first partial record information, it ispossible to automatically realize various patterns of branching byreferring to the branch timing information. Consequently, it is possibleto easily perform the interactive reproduction in various mannerautomatically by the reproducing apparatus.

In another aspect of the recording apparatus of the present invention,the controller generates the reproduction control information includingpre-branch reproduction control information for controlling areproduction state of the reproducing apparatus before branching withrespect to at least one of the partial record informations.

According to this aspect, the reproduction control information includesthe pre-branch reproduction control information for controlling thereproduction state before branching. Thus, at the time of reproducingthe partial record information, it is possible to easily control thereproduction state before branching by referring to the pre-branchreproduction control information. Consequently, it is possible to easilycontrol the pre-branch operation in the interactive reproduction by thereproducing apparatus.

In this aspect, the pre-branch reproduction control information mayinclude still image reproduction time information, which indicates atime duration for performing a still image reproduction, or repeatreproduction time information, which indicates a time duration forperforming a repeat reproduction. In this case, as the reproductionstate before branching, the still image reproduction or the repeatreproduction can be realized. Consequently, it is possible to easilyperform the still image reproduction or the repeat reproduction duringthe waiting time for the inputting operation in the interactivereproduction.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by areproducing apparatus for reproducing a record medium, on which aplurality of partial record informations obtained by dividing recordinformation into the partial record informations on the basis ofpredetermined material content information, which indicates a materialcontent of the record information, and reproduction control informationto control the reproducing apparatus to reproduce the partial recordinformations in a predetermined order, which is set in advance or whichis based on a condition given to the reproducing apparatus from theexternal at a time of reproduction. The reproducing apparatus isprovided with: a reading device for reading information from the recordmedium; an extracting device for extracting the reproduction controlinformation from the read information; a reproducing device forreproducing the partial record informations; and a controller forcontrolling the reproducing device to reproduce the partial recordinformations in the predetermined order on the basis of the extractedreproduction control information or on the basis of the condition givenfrom the external at the time of reproduction.

According to the reproducing apparatus of the present invention, theinformation is read from the record medium by the reading apparatus.Then, the reproduction control information is extracted from the readinformation by the extracting device. Then, by the controller, thereproducing device is controlled to reproduce the partial recordinformations in the predetermined order on the basis of the extractedreproduction control information or on the basis of the condition givenfrom the external.

Consequently, by use of the reproduction control information which canbe reproduced from the record medium besides the partial recordinformations (e.g. the video and audio information), an interactivereproduction can be performed, which does not increase the load on thereproducing apparatus so much and which is in line with the intention ofthe medium author, based on the reproduced reproduction controlinformation.

In one aspect of the reproducing apparatus of the present invention, thereproduction control information includes branch destination informationfor specifying at least one second partial record information to bebranched from a first partial record information; and the controllercontrols the reproducing device to reproduce the second partial recordinformation specified by the branch destination information in theextracted reproduction control information after reproducing the firstpartial record information.

According to this aspect, the reproducing device is controlled by thecontroller to reproduce the second partial record information specifiedby the branch destination information in the extracted reproductioncontrol information after reproducing the first partial recordinformation. Thus, the branch destination (i.e. the second partialrecord information) can be easily specified by referring to the branchdestination information which can be reproduced from the record mediumbesides the partial record information. Consequently, the interactivereproduction can be performed more easily by the reproducing apparatus.

In this aspect, the branch destination information may includereproduction level information for the reproducing apparatus to judgewhether the reproduction of each partial record information to bebranched is permitted or prohibited by a level indicated by thereproduction level information; and the controller compares the levelindicated by the reproduction level information with a level indicatedby a standard reproduction level information which is set to thereproducing apparatus in advance, and controls the reproducing device toreproduce the partial record information only in a case that thereproduction of the partial record information is permitted as a resultof comparison. In this case, it can be easily judged whether or not thereproduction of the branch destination (i.e. the second partial recordinformation) is permitted or prohibited by referring to the reproductionlevel information. Consequently, the interactive reproduction of onlythe permitted partial record information can be easily performed by thereproducing apparatus.

Also in this aspect, the branch destination information may includebranch timing information for the reproducing apparatus to judge, in acase that a branch command is given to the reproducing apparatus fromthe external, whether the branch command causes the reproducingapparatus to immediately branch into the partial record information at abranch destination or to branch into the partial record information atthe branch destination after finishing the reproduction of the partialrecord information presently reproduced at a timing when the branchcommand is given; and the controller judges whether the given branchcommand causes the reproducing apparatus to immediately branch into thepartial record information or to branch into the partial recordinformation after finishing the reproduction on the basis of the branchtiming information, and controls the reproducing device to reproduce thepartial record information according to a result of judgment. In thiscase, it is possible to realize various patterns of branching byreferring to the branch timing information. Consequently, it is possibleto easily perform the interactive reproduction in various manner in linewith the intention of the medium author by the reproducing apparatus.

Further in this aspect, the branch destination information may includerandom branch information to cause, in a case that a branch command isgenerated in the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus torandomly select a branch destination from a predetermined plurality ofpartial record informations after finishing the reproduction of thepartial record information presently reproduced at a timing when thebranch command is generated, so as to branch thereto. In this case,various patterns of branching can be automatically realized by referringto the branch timing information. Consequently, the interactivereproduction in various manner can be easily performed automatically bythe reproducing apparatus.

Further, in this aspect, the branch destination information may includerandom branch information to cause, in a case that a branch command isgenerated in the reproducing apparatus, the reproducing apparatus torandomly select a branch destination from a predetermined plurality ofpartial record informations after finishing the reproduction of thepartial record information presently reproduced at a timing when thebranch command is generated; and the controller randomly selects thebranch destination after finishing the reproduction of the partialrecord information presently reproduced at a timing when the branchcommand is generated on the basis of the random branch information, andcontrols the reproducing device to reproduce the selected partial recordinformation. In this case, various patterns of branching can beautomatically realized by referring to the branch timing information.Consequently, the interactive reproduction can be easily performed invarious manner automatically by the reproducing apparatus.

In another aspect of the present invention, the reproduction controlinformation comprises pre-branch reproduction control information forcontrolling a reproduction state of the reproducing apparatus beforebranching with respect to at least one of the partial recordinformations; and the controller controls the reproducing device to bein a reproduction state indicated by the pre-branch reproduction controlinformation in the extracted reproduction control information beforebranching.

According to this aspect, the reproduction control information includesthe pre-branch reproduction control information for controlling thereproduction state before branching. Thus, the reproduction state beforebranching can be easily controlled by referring to the pre-branchreproduction control information. Consequently, the pre-branch operationcan be easily controlled in the interactive reproduction by thereproducing apparatus.

In this aspect, the pre-branch reproduction control informationcomprises still image reproduction time information, which indicates atime duration for performing a still image reproduction, or repeatreproduction time information, which indicates a time duration forperforming a repeat reproduction; and the controller controls thereproducing device to perform the still image reproduction for the timeduration indicated by the still image reproduction time information, orperform the repeat reproduction for the time duration indicated by therepeat reproduction time information. In this case, as the reproductionstate before branching, the still image reproduction or the repeatreproduction can be realized. Consequently, the still image reproductionor the repeat reproduction can be easily performed during the waitingtime for the inputting operation in the interactive reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of aninformation recording apparatus of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining addition information data used in theembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining reproduction control data used in theembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a table for explaining three-bit control information used inthe embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining an information record state of an opticaldisk in the embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of aninformation reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be now explainedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

(I) Information Recording Apparatus

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an information recording apparatus ofthe embodiment.

In FIG. 1, an information recording apparatus 100 is provided with a VTR(Video Tape Recorder) 1, a signal process section 3, a hard disk (HD)device 4, a flexible disk (FD) device 5, a controller 6, a switchingsection 7, a modulating section 8 and a mastering device 9.

The VTR 1 reproduces a magnetic tape on which record information, suchas audio information, video information and the like to be recorded ontoan original disk DKo, is recorded, and outputs a time code Tr, a videosignal Sv and an audio signal Sa.

The signal control section 3 A/D-converts the video signal Sv and theaudio signal Sa outputted from the VTR 1, and then compresses the videosignal Sv for every GOP (Group Of Pictures) by means of the MPEG (MotionPicture Experts Group, which is an international standardization meetingfor accumulation medium animation image encoding) method. Then, thesignal process section 3 time-axis-multiplexes these signals by a packetunit to output a compression multiplexing data Sr. The signal processsection 3 also divides the time code Tt corresponding to the abovementioned record information outputted from the VTR 1 and the recordinformation recorded on the magnetic tape in advance into the partialrecord informations for every material content. On the basis of a queuedata Dq corresponding to each of the partial record informations and thetime code Tt, the signal process section 3 detects a reproduction timein a case of reproducing the pertinent partial record information foreach of the partial record informations and a start address in therecord information of each of the partial record informations, to outputa material content information data Dac.

The hard disk device 4 temporarily stores the compression multiplexingdata Sr. The flexible disk device 5, such as a floppy disk device,temporarily records the material content information data Dac. Thecontroller 6 controls the information recording apparatus 100 as awhole, and also on the basis of the compression multiplexing data Srread out from the hard disk device 4 and the material content data Dacread out from the flexible device 5, outputs various additioninformation data Sad, and further outputs an information selectionsignal Ssw for selecting one of the multiplexing compression data Sr andthe addition information data Sad as data to be outputted to themodulating section 8. The switching section 7 selects, on the basis ofthe information selection signal Ssw, one of the multiplexingcompression data Sr and the addition information data Sad, and outputsit as an information addition compression multiplexing data Srad. Themodulating section 8 carries out an addition of an error correction code(ECC), such as a REED SOLOMON sign and the like, and a modulation, suchas a 8-15 modulation and the like, to the information additioncompression multiplexing data Srad, and outputs it as a modulationsignal Smd. The mastering device 9 prepares the original disk DKo to bea master disk for replicating a plurality of optical disks, on the basisof the modulation signal Smd.

Now, the addition information data Sad is explained.

The record information corresponding to one material (the video signalSv and the audio signal Sa) can be divided in advance into the partialrecord informations for every material content, and the additioninformation data Sad are constituted in association with each of thepartial record informations.

As shown in FIG. 2, the addition information data Sad is roughlyprovided with a division unit number data 20, a lead address data group21, a size data group 22, a reproduction level data group 23 and areproduction control data group 24. The division unit number data 20indicates the number (=n) of the division units corresponding to thepartial record informations. The lead address data group 21 is composedof lead address data indicating a lead address for every division unitcorresponding to each of the partial record informations. The size datagroup 22 is composed of size data indicating a size for every divisionunit corresponding to each of the partial record informations. Thereproduction level data group 23 is composed of reproduction level datafor setting a reproduction level at the pertinent division unit forevery division unit corresponding to each of the partial recordinformations, that is, a target (level) that a reproduction for a child,an adult or the like should be permitted. The reproduction control datagroup 24 is composed of reproduction control data 24-1 to 24-n forcarrying out a reproduction control at the division unit correspondingto each of the partial record informations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the reproduction control data 24-x (x=1 to n )constituting the reproduction control data group 24 is provided with aconnectable division unit number data 30, a reproduction controlinformation data 31 and a connection portion record information datagroup 32. The connectable division unit number data 30 indicates anumber (connectable division unit number m) of other partial recordinformations (=division units) that can be connected (reproducedcontinuously) to the pertinent reproduction control data 24-x. Thereproduction control information data 31 is intended to carry out thereproduction control of the partial record information corresponding tothe pertinent reproduction control data 24-x. The connection portionrecord information data group 32 is composed of connection portionrecord information data 32-1 to 32-n indicating the reproduction levelof the other partial record information that can be connected to thepertinent reproduction control data 24-x and the number to specify theother partial record information.

Now, the reproduction control information data 31 is explained.

The reproduction control information data 31 is provided with three-bitcontrol information data composed of three bits of bits b2 to b0, andstill and repeat time information data.

At first, the three-bit control information data is explained withreference to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, a first bit b2 of the three-bit control informationdata is a branch form setting flag for controlling to branch into otherpartial record information on the basis of a user selection, or tobranch into other partial record information on the basis of judgment ofthe reproducing apparatus. For example, it is assumed to branch into theother partial record information on the basis of the judgment of thereproducing apparatus by setting the first bit b2=1.

In FIG. 4, since a second bit b1 and a third bit b0 are different fromeach other in meaning thereof on the basis of a value of the first bitb2, the explanation is carried out for every value of the first bit b2.

(a) In a case of the first bit b2=0 (the branch by the user selection)

The second bit b1 is a reproduction form setting flag for controllingwhether it is set to a still image reproduction state or a repeatreproduction state after the reproduction of presently reproducedpartial record information (division unit under reproduction) isfinished. For example, at a time of the second bit b1=1, it is set tothe repeat reproduction state.

The third bit b0 is a branch condition setting flag for controllingwhether it immediately corresponds to a predetermined key input duringreproducing the partial record information (division unit) andimmediately branches into the reproduction of the partial recordinformation at a branch destination or branches into the reproduction ofthe partial record information at the branch destination after thereproduction of the pertinent partial record information is finished.For example, at a time of the third bit b0=1, it branches immediately.

(b) In a case of the first bit b2=1 (the branch on the basis of thejudgment of the reproducing apparatus)

In this case, a branch state is different on the basis of a combinationof the second bit b1 and the third bit b0.

In a case that the second bit b1=0 and the third bit b0=0, in thisembodiment, it is in a reservation state, and thereby it is not used.

In a case that the second bit b1=0 and the third bit b0=1, in thisembodiment, it is in the reservation state, and thereby it is not used.

In a case that the second bit b1=1 and the third bit b0=0, the key inputis not accepted to receive, and it does not shift to the still imagereproduction operation or the repeat reproduction operation. Then, afterthe reproduction of the pertinent partial record information is finished(i.e. after the last division unit), it randomly branches into otherpartial record information that can be branched.

In a case that the second bit b1=1 and the third bit b0=1, the key inputis not accepted to receive, and it does not shift to the still imagereproduction operation or the repeat reproduction operation. After thereproduction of the pertinent partial record information is finished(i.e. after the last division unit), it branches into the other partialrecord information having the highest reproduction level (the widestpermission range) of other partial record informations that can bebranched.

The still and repeat time information data is data for setting a timefor which the still image reproduction operation or the repeatreproduction operation is carried out in a key input waiting state in acase of the first bit b2 of the three-bit control information data=0. Ina case that the key input is not carried out within a time indicated bythe still and repeat time information data, or in a case that a normalkey input is not carried out, it branches into predetermined (default)other partial record information (division unit). In this case, thepredetermined other partial record information is assumed to be, forexample, partial record information (division unit 1) described at thebeginning of the addition information data Sad.

As the setting of a more actual still and repeat time information dataT, assuming that the still and repeat time information data T has 8bits:

    in a case of 0≦T ≦60,

let the still image reproduction time or the repeat reproduction time beT second!;

    in a case of 60<T≦254,

assuming the still image reproduction time or the repeat reproductiontime to be TT,

    let TT=(t-60)×10+60  sec!;

and

    in a case of T=255,

until the key input is carried out, the still image reproduction or therepeat reproduction is carried out, that is,

    let TT=∞.

As shown in FIG. 5, the above mentioned addition information Sad isrecorded on an addition information area at the most inner circumferenceside (i.e. the lead-in area) of the optical disk.

Next, an operation of the information recording apparatus 100 will beexplained with reference with FIG. 1.

When the VTR 1 reproduces the magnetic tape on which the recordinformation, such as the audio information, the video information andthe like to be recorded onto the original disk DKo, is recorded, andoutputs the time code Tt, the video signal Sv and the audio signal Sa,the signal process section 3 A/D-converts the video signal Sv and theaudio signal Sa outputted from the VTR 1, and then compresses the videosignal Sv for every GOP (Group Of Pictures) by means of the MPEG method,time-axis-multiplexes these signals by the packet unit and outputs thecompression multiplexing data Sr to the hard disk device 4. The signalprocess section 3 also divides the time code Tt corresponding to theabove mentioned record information outputted from the VTR 1 and therecord information recorded on the magnetic tape in advance into thepartial record informations for every material content. Then, on thebasis of the queue data Dq corresponding to each of the partial recordinformations and the time code Tt, the signal process section 3 detectsthe reproduction time in a case of reproducing the pertinent partialrecord information for each of the partial record informations and thestart address in the record information of each of the partial recordinformations, and outputs the material content information data Dac tothe flexible disk device 5.

The compression multiplexing data Sr stored in the hard disk device 4 isoutputted to the switching section 7 under the control of the controller7.

And, the flexible disk device 5 temporarily records the material contentinformation data Dac on a flexible disk and outputs the material contentinformation data Dac to the controller 6 under the control of thecontroller 6.

In parallel to the outputs of the compression multiplexing data Sr andthe material content information data Dac, the controller 6 outputs, onthe basis of the compression multiplexing data Sr and the materialcontent information data Dac, the addition information data Sad to theswitching section 7, and also outputs the information selection signalSsw to the switching section 7 for selecting one of the multiplexingcompression data Sr and the addition information data Sad as the data tobe outputted to the modulating section 8.

Accordingly, the switching section 7 selects one of the multiplexingcompression data Sr and the addition information data Sad on the basisof the information selection signal Ssw and outputs the informationaddition compression multiplexing data Srad to the modulating section 8.

The modulating section 8 carries out the addition of the errorcorrection code (ECC), such as the REED SOLOMON sign and the like, andthe modulation, such as the 8-15 modulation and the like, to theinformation addition compression multiplexing data Srad, and outputs themodulation signal Smd to the mastering device 9.

The mastering device 9 prepares the original disk DKo as the master diskon the basis of the modulation signal Smd.

In this way, in the original disk DKo to which the mastering is applied,the addition information data Sad is recorded in the most innercircumference (i.e. the lead-in area) of the original disk DKo, forexample. A replica disk in which the addition information data Sad isrecorded in the most inner circumference is fabricated by a replicationdevice by using this original disk DKo as the master disk.

(II) Information Reproducing Apparatus

Next, a configuration of the information reproducing apparatus will beexplained with reference to FIG. 6.

In FIG. 6, an information reproducing apparatus 200 is provided with anoptical pickup 40, a binary coding device 41, a demodulator 42, a signalprocess section 43, a clock component detector 44, a phase comparator45, a spindle motor 46, an oscillator 47, a controller 48 and anoperation section 49.

The optical pickup 40 reads out the record information of an opticaldisk DK, which is manufactured by replicating the original disk DKorecorded by the information recording apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 and onwhich the addition information data Sad is recorded, and outputs it as aread signal Srd. The binary coding device 41 converts the read signalSrd into a binary digit on the basis of a constant threshold, andoutputs it as a binary signal Sb.

The demodulator 42 carries out a demodulation and an error correction tothe binary signal Sb, outputs it as a demodulation signal S1 and alsoextracts the addition information data Sad from the binary signal Sb andoutputs it to the controller 48. The signal process section 43 extendsthe demodulation signal S1 by means of the MPEG method, D/A-converts andoutputs an output video signal Svo and an output audio signal Sao.

The clock component detector 44 detects a clock component from thebinary signal Sb and outputs it as a detection clock signal CLKp. Thephase comparator 45 comprises a LPF (Low Pass Filter) forphase-comparing the detection clock signal CLKp with a standard clocksignal CLK from the oscillator 47 to thereby generate a comparisonsignal and for removing a high frequency band component from thecomparison signal by the LPF and outputting it as a rotation numbercontrol signal Ssp for the spindle motor 46. The spindle motor 46rotates the optical disk DK under the rotation number control on thebasis of the rotation number control signal Ssp. The oscillator 47outputs the standard clock signal CLK to set a timing synchronizationbetween respective elements constituting the information reproducingapparatus 200.

The controller 48 controls the information reproducing apparatus 200 asa whole, and also carries out the reproduction control on the basis ofthe addition information data Sad, and further outputs a spindle controlsignal Se to control the ON/OFF of the spindle motor 46, a signal outputcontrol signal Sds and a slider control signal Sx to reproduce thepartial record information corresponding to a reproduction position, anda reproduction control signal Scc to carry out the still imagereproduction or the repeat reproduction.

The operation section 49 is provided with: various operation switches bywhich the user can input the instructions to perform normal and specialreproductions e.g. a scanning operation, a search operation, a slowoperation; and an operation panel for displaying the operation conditionof the information reproducing apparatus 200.

Next, the reproduction operation will be explained.

The controller 48, when a command of a reproduction start is inputtedfrom the operation section 49 such as a remote controller and the like,outputs the spindle control signal Se to drives the spindle motor 46,and rotates the optical disk DK, so as to start the reproduction.

Then, the controller 48 outputs the slider control signal Sx to theoptical pickup 40, moves it to a defined read position, and also causesthe optical pickup 40 to read out the record information on the opticaldisk DK to output the read signal Srd to the binary coding device 41.

The binary coding device 41 converts the output read signal Srd into thebinary digit on the basis of the constant threshold and outputs thebinary signal Sb to the demodulator 42 and the clock component detector44.

Accordingly, the demodulator 42 carries out the demodulation and theerror correction to the binary signal Sb, outputs the demodulationsignal S1 to the signal process section 43 and also extracts theaddition information data Sad from the binary signal Sb, and outputs itto the controller 48.

In parallel to this, the clock component detector 44 detects the clockcomponent from the binary signal Sb and outputs the detection clocksignal CLKp. And, the phase-comparator 45 phase-compares the detectionclock signal CLKp with the standard clock signal CLK from the oscillator47 to thereby generate the comparison signal, and removes the highfrequency band component from the pertinent comparison signal andoutputs the rotation number control signal Ssp of the spindle motor 46to the spindle motor 46.

The controller 48 reproduces the record information, and also judges thepartial record information (division unit) to which a presentreproduction position corresponds, from the inputted additioninformation data Sad and an address of presently reproduced recordinformation.

And, it judges a manner of reproducing the pertinent partial recordinformation from the reproduction control information data 31 of thereproduction control data 24-x corresponding to the presently reproducedpartial record information shown in FIG. 3.

Namely, depending on the content of the three-bit control information,the reproduction operation is performed differently as following.

(a) In a case that the first bit b2=0, the second bit b1=0 and the thirdbit b0=0 which constitute the three-bit control information:

It waits for the key input of the user through the operation section 49.If the key input is done, it continues the reproduction until the lastof presently reproduced partial record information (division unit).After the reproduction is finished, it branches into the partial recordinformation at a branch destination corresponding to the inputted key.

In this case, in a case that the reproduction is carried out up to thelast of the pertinent partial record information while waiting for thekey input, it shifts to the still image reproduction operation on thebasis of the reproduction control signal Scc, and becomes further in thekey input waiting state.

After that, in a case that the key input is done within the timeindicated by the still and repeat time information data, it branchesinto a branch destination corresponding to the inputted key.

And, in a case that the key input is not done within the time indicatedby the still and repeat time information data, or in a case that thenormal key input is not done, it branches into predetermined (default)other partial record information (division unit). (

b) In a case that the first bit b2=0, the second bit b1=0 and the thirdbit b0=1 which constitute the three-bit control information:

It waits for the key input of the user through the operation section 49.If the key input is done, it immediately branches into the partialrecord information at a branch destination corresponding to the inputtedkey.

In this case, in a case that the reproduction is carried out up to thelast of the pertinent partial record information while waiting for thekey input, it shifts to the still image reproduction operation on thebasis of the reproduction control signal Scc, and becomes further in thekey input waiting state.

After that, in a case that the key input is done within the timeindicated by the still and repeat time information data, it branchesinto a branch destination corresponding to the inputted key.

And, in a case that the key input is not done within the time indicatedby the still and repeat time information data, or in a case that thenormal key input is not done, it branches into predetermined (default)other partial record information (division unit).

(c) In a case that the first bit b2=0, the second bit b1=1 and the thirdbit b0=0 which constitute the three-bit control information:

It waits for the key input of the user through the operation section 49.If the key input is done, it continues the reproduction until the lastof the presently reproduced partial record information (division unit).After the reproduction is finished, it branches into the partial recordinformation at a branch destination corresponding to the inputted key.

In this case, in a case that the reproduction is carried out up to thelast of the pertinent partial record information while waiting for thekey input, it shifts to the repeat reproduction operation of the partialrecord information on the basis of the reproduction control signal Scc,and becomes further in the key input waiting state.

After that, in a case that the key input is done within the timeindicated by the still and repeat time information data, it branchesinto the branch destination corresponding to the inputted key.

And, in a case that the key input is not done within the time indicatedby the still and repeat time information data, or in a case that thenormal key input is not done, it branches into predetermined (default)other partial record information (division unit).

(d) In a case that the first bit b2=0, the second bit b1=1 and the thirdbit b0=1 which constitute the three-bit control information.

It waits for the key input of the user through the operation section 49.If the key input is done, it immediately branches into the partialrecord information at a branch destination corresponding to the inputtedkey.

In this case, in a case that the reproduction is carried out up to thelast of the pertinent partial record information while waiting for thekey input, it shifts to the repeat reproduction operation of the partialrecord information on the basis of the reproduction control signal Scc,and becomes further in the key input waiting state.

After that, in a case that the key input is done within the timeindicated by the still and repeat time information data, it branchesinto the branch destination corresponding to the inputted key.

And, in a case that the key input is not done within the time indicatedby the still and repeat time information data, or in a case that thenormal key input is not done, it branches into predetermined (default)other partial record information (division unit).

(e) In a case that the first bit b2=1, the second bit b1=0 and the thirdbit b0=0 which constitute the three-bit control information, or that thefirst bit b2=1, the second bit b1=0 and the third bit b0=1:

Since the reproducing manner is not determined, the controller 48 causesthe optical disk DK to be ejected and displays, on a display pictureplane of the operation section 49, a message that the pertinent opticaldisk can not be reproduced, and also becomes in the waiting state untila new optical disk is loaded.

(f) In a case that the first bit b2=1, the second bit b1=1 and the thirdbit b0=0 which constitute the three-bit control information:

It continues the reproduction until the last of the presently reproducedpartial record information (division unit). After the reproduction isfinished, it randomly sets a branch destination out of the partialrecord informations (division unit) that can be reproduced, and thenbranches thereto.

(g) In a case that the first bit b2=1, the second bit b1=1 and the thirdbit b0=1 which constitute the three-bit control information:

It continues the reproduction until the last of the presently reproducedpartial record information (division unit). After the reproduction isfinished, it selects the partial record information (division unit)having the highest reproduction level which does not exceed apre-specified reproduction level out of the partial record informations(division unit) that can be branched, and then branches thereto.

After that, it repeats operations similar to those of the abovementioned (a) to (g). At a point when the reproduction of the lastrecord information to be reproduced (division unit), that is, thepartial record information of a division unit number data 20=0 isfinished, it returns the optical pickup 40 to a waiting position at themost inner circumference side on the basis of the slider control signalSx, and finishes the reproduction operation.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, since it is possibleto control an interactive reproduction operation on the basis of theaddition information data Sad, even if a memory capacity of a memory onthe side of the reproducing apparatus is small, it is possible to easilycarry out a complex reproduction control in line with the intention ofthe medium author.

The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for recording information onto arecording medium to be reproduced by a reproducing apparatus able toperform an interactive reproduction, comprising:a process means fordividing the recorded information into a plurality of partial recordedinformation, each of which is a discrete segment able to be selectivelyaccessed by said reproducing apparatus in the interactive reproduction,on the basis of material content information, which indicates a materialcontent of the recorded information and is provided externally; acontroller for generating reproduction control information to controlsaid reproducing apparatus to reproduce the plurality of partial recordinformation in a predetermined order, which is set in advance or whichis based on a condition given to said reproducing apparatus from theexternal at a time of the interactive reproduction, by selectivelyaccessing a respective one of the plurality of partial recordedinformation according to the reproduction information; and a recordingmeans for recording the plurality of partial recorded information andthe reproduction control information onto the recording medium, whereinsaid controller generates the reproduction control informationcomprising branch destination information for specifying at least onesecond partial recorded information to be branched from a first partialrecord information, and wherein the branch destination informationcomprises branch timing information for said reproducing apparatus tojudge, in a case that a branch command is given to said reproducingapparatus from the external, whether the branch command causes saidreproducing apparatus to immediately branch into the partial recordedinformation at a branch destination or to branch into the partialrecorded information at the branch destination after finishing thereproduction of the partial recorded information presently reproduced ata timing when the branch command is given.
 2. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the branch destination information comprisesreproduction information for said reproducing apparatus to judge whetherthe reproduction of each partial recorded information to be branched ispermitted or prohibited by a level indicated by the reproduction levelinformation.
 3. An apparatus for recording information onto a recordingmedium to be reproduced by a reproducing apparatus able to perform aninteractive reproduction, comprising:a process means for dividing therecorded information into a plurality of partial recorded information,each of which is a discrete segment able to be selectively accessed bysaid reproducing apparatus in the interactive reproduction, on the basisof material content information, which indicates a material content ofthe recorded information and is given from the external; a controllerfor generating reproduction control information to control saidreproducing apparatus to reproduce the plurality of partial recordedinformation in a predetermined order, which is set in advance or whichis based on a condition given to said reproducing apparatus from theexternal at a time of the interactive reproduction, by selectivelyaccessing a respective one of the plurality of partial recordedinformation according to the reproduction information; and a recordingmeans for recording the plurality of partial recorded information andthe reproduction control information onto the recording medium, whereinsaid controller generates the reproduction control informationcomprising branch destination information for specifying at least onesecond partial recorded information to be branched from a first partialrecorded information, and wherein the branch destination informationcomprises random branch information to cause, in a case that a branchcommand is generated in said reproducing apparatus, said reproducingapparatus to randomly select a branch destination from a predeterminedplurality of partial recorded information after finishing thereproduction of the partial recorded information presently reproduced ata timing when the branch command is generated, so as to branch thereto.4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the branch destinationinformation comprises reproduction level information for saidreproducing apparatus to judge whether the reproduction of each partialrecorded information to be branched is permitted or prohibited by alevel indicated by the reproduction level information.
 5. An apparatusfor recording information onto a recording medium to be reproduced by areproducing apparatus able to perform an interactive reproduction,comprising:a process means for dividing the recorded information into aplurality of partial recorded information, each of which is a discretesegment able to be selectively accessed by said reproducing apparatus inthe interactive reproduction, on the basis of material contentinformation, which indicates a material content of the recordedinformation and is given from the external; a controller for generatingreproduction control information to control said reproducing apparatusto reproduce the plurality of partial recorded information in apredetermined order, which is set in advance or which is based on acondition given to said reproducing apparatus from the external at atime of the interactive reproduction, by selectively accessing arespective one of the plurality of partial recorded informationaccording to the reproduction information; and a recording means forrecording the plurality of partial recorded information and thereproduction control information onto the recording medium, wherein saidcontroller generates the reproduction control information comprisingpre-branch reproduction control information for controlling areproduction state of said reproducing apparatus before branching withrespect to at least one of the partial recorded information, and whereinthe pre-branch reproduction control information comprises still imagereproduction time information, which indicates a time duration forperforming a still image reproduction, or repeat reproduction timeinformation, which indicates a time duration for performing a repeatreproduction.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the branchdestination information comprises reproduction level information forsaid reproducing apparatus to judge whether the reproduction of eachpartial recorded information to be branched is permitted or prohibitedby a level indicated by the reproduction level information.
 7. Anapparatus for reproducing a recording medium, on which a plurality ofpartial recorded information obtained by dividing recorded informationinto the plurality of partial recorded information, each of which is adiscrete segment able to be selectively accessed by said reproducingapparatus in an interactive reproduction performed by said reproducingapparatus, on the basis of predetermined material content information,which indicates a material content of the recorded information, andreproduction control information to control said reproducing apparatusto reproduce the plurality of partial recorded information in apredetermined order, which is set in advance or which is based on acondition given to said reproducing apparatus from the external at atime of the interactive reproduction, said reproducing apparatuscomprising:a reading means for reading information from said recordingmedium; an extracting means for extracting the reproduction controlinformation from the read information; a reproducing means forreproducing the plurality of partial recorded information; and acontroller for controlling said reproducing means to reproduce theplurality of partial recorded information in the predetermined order onthe basis of the extracted reproduction control information or on thebasis of the condition given from the external at the time of theinteractive reproduction, by selectively accessing a respective one ofthe plurality of partial recorded information according to the extractedreproduction control information, wherein the reproduction controlinformation comprises branch destination information for specifying atleast one second partial record information to be branched from a firstpartial record information, and said controller controls saidreproducing means to reproduce the second partial recorded informationspecified by the branch destination information in the extractedreproduction control information after reproducing the first partialrecorded information, and wherein the branch destination informationcomprises branch timing information for said reproducing apparatus tojudge, in a case that a branch command is given to said reproducingapparatus from the external, whether the branch command causes saidreproducing apparatus to immediately branch into the partial recordedinformation at a branch destination or to branch into the partialrecorded information at the branch destination after finishing thereproduction of the partial recorded information presently reproduced ata timing when the branch command is given; and said controller judgeswhether the given branch command causes said reproducing apparatus toimmediately branch into the partial recorded information or to branchinto the partial recorded information after finishing the reproductionon the basis of the branch timing information, and controls saidreproducing means to reproduce the partial recorded informationaccording to a result of judgment.
 8. The apparatus according to claim7, wherein the branch destination information comprises reproductionlevel information for said reproducing apparatus to judge whether thereproduction of each partial recorded information to be branched ispermitted or prohibited by a level indicated by the reproduction levelinformation; andsaid controller compares the level indicated by thereproduction level information with a level indicated by a standardreproduction level information which is set to said reproducingapparatus in advance, and controls said reproducing means to reproducethe partial recorded information only in a case that the reproduction ofthe partial recorded information is permitted as a result of comparison.9. An apparatus for reproducing a recording medium, on which a pluralityof partial recorded information obtained by dividing recordedinformation into the plurality of partial recorded information, each ofwhich is a discrete segment able to be selectively accessed by saidreproducing apparatus in an interactive reproduction performed by saidreproducing apparatus, on the basis of predetermined material contentinformation, which indicates a material content of the recordedinformation, and reproduction control information to control saidreproducing apparatus to reproduce the plurality of partial recordedinformation in a predetermined order, which is set in advance or whichis based on a condition given to said reproducing apparatus from theexternal at a time of the interactive reproduction, said reproducingapparatus comprising:a reading means for reading information from saidrecording medium; an extracting means for extracting the reproductioncontrol information from the read information; a reproducing means forreproducing the plurality of partial recorded information; and acontroller for controlling said reproducing means to reproduce theplurality of partial recorded information in the predetermined order onthe basis of the extracted reproduction control information or on thebasis of the condition given from the external at the time of theinteractive reproduction, by selectively accessing a respective one ofthe plurality of partial recorded information according to the extractedreproduction control information; wherein the reproduction controlinformation comprises branch destination information for specifying atleast one second partial recorded information to be branched from afirst partial record information, and said controller controls saidreproducing means to reproduce the second partial recorded informationspecified by the branch destination information in the extractedreproduction control information after reproducing the first partialrecorded information, and wherein the branch destination informationcomprises random ranch information to cause, in a case that a branchcommand is generated in said reproducing apparatus, said reproducingapparatus to randomly select a branch destination from a predeterminedplurality of partial recorded information after finishing thereproduction of the partial recorded information presently reproduced ata timing when the branch command is generated; and said controllerrandomly selects the branch destination after finishing the reproductionof the partial recorded information presently reproduced at a timingwhen the branch command is generated on the basis of the random branchinformation, and controls said reproducing means to reproduce theselected partial recorded information.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the branch destination information comprisesreproduction level information for said reproducing apparatus to judgewhether the reproduction of each partial recorded information to bebranched is permitted or prohibited by a level indicated by thereproduction level information; and said controller compares the levelindicated by the reproduction level information with a level indicatedby a standard reproduction level information which is set to saidreproducing apparatus in advance, and controls said reproducing means toreproduce the partial recorded information only in a case that thereproduction of the partial recorded information is permitted as aresult of comparison.
 11. An apparatus for reproducing a recordingmedium, on which a plurality of partial recorded information obtained bydividing recorded information into the plurality of partial recordedinformation, each of which is a discrete segment able to be selectivelyaccessed by said reproducing apparatus in an interactive reproductionperformed by said reproducing apparatus, on the basis of predeterminedmaterial content information, which indicates a material content of therecorded information, and reproduction control information to controlsaid reproducing apparatus to reproduce the plurality of partialrecorded information in a predetermined order, which is set in advanceor which is based on a condition given to said reproducing apparatusfrom the external at a time of the interactive reproduction, saidreproducing apparatus comprising:a reading means for reading informationfrom said recording medium; an extracting means for extracting thereproduction control information from the read information; areproducing means for reproducing the plurality of partial recordedinformation; and a controller for controlling said reproducing means toreproduce the plurality of partial recorded information in thepredetermined order on the basis of the extracted reproduction controlinformation or on the basis of the condition given from the external atthe time of the interactive reproduction, by selectively accessing arespective one of the plurality of partial recorded informationaccording to the extracted reproduction control information; wherein thereproduction control information comprises pre-branch reproductioncontrol information for controlling a reproduction state of saidreproducing apparatus before branching with respect to at least one ofthe partial recorded information; and said controller controls saidreproducing means to be in a reproduction state indicated by thepre-branch reproduction control information in the extractedreproduction control information before branching; wherein thepre-branch reproduction control information comprises still imagereproduction time information, which indicates a time duration forperforming a still image reproduction, or repeat reproduction timeinformation, which indicates a time duration for performing a repeatreproduction; and said controller controls said reproducing means toperform the still image reproduction for the time duration indicated bythe still image reproduction time information, or perform the repeatreproduction for the time duration indicated by the repeat reproductiontime information.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein thebranch destination information comprises reproduction level informationfor said reproducing apparatus to judge whether the reproduction of eachpartial recorded information to be branched is permitted or prohibitedby a level indicated by the reproduction level information; and saidcontroller compares the level indicated by the reproduction levelinformation with a level indicated by a standard reproduction levelinformation which is set to said reproducing apparatus in advance, andcontrols said reproducing means to reproduce the partial recordedinformation only in a case that the reproduction of the partial recordedinformation is permitted as a result of comparison.